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Joe Mazzulla appears to be enjoying himself since leading the Boston Celtics to their record-setting 18th NBA championship. Ahead of the Celtics' title parade, the first-time champion coach was seen walking the streets of Boston with the team's Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. While doing so, he allowed some fans to touch the prestigious trophy.
The Celtics secured this year's title with Monday's 106-88 Game 5 NBA Finals victory over the Dallas Mavericks, winning the series 4-1. The following day, they traveled to Miami to celebrate. However, Mazzulla was back in Boston on Wednesday, strolling around the city's North End with the championship trophy.
Several fans documented the 35-year-old, who became the youngest coach to win an NBA title since 1970, doing so. In photos and videos uploaded to X/Twitter, some fans could be seen getting the opportunity to feel the trophy.
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When asked by a fan "how much he loved the North End," Mazzulla expressed his appreciation for the entire city.
"I like the city of Boston," Mazzulla said.
Mazzulla quickly became a fan favorite over his first two seasons coaching the Celtics due to his team-oriented offensive system and blunt interview responses. However, after leading the franchise to Banner 18, the most all-time, Boston's reverence for him has seemingly elevated to another level.
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Joe Mazzulla on making history with first NBA title
As for Joe Mazzulla's thoughts on making history on Monday night, he highlighted his gratitude to be the leader of such a storied organization.
“There’s nothing better than representing the Celtics, and being part of history," Mazzulla said.
Mazzulla also credited his players for coming through on the NBA's biggest stage.
“You get very few chances in life to be great and you get very few chances in life to carry on the ownership and the responsibility of what these banners are, and all the great people, all the great players that came here,” Mazzulla said.
“When you have few chances in life, you just have to take the bull by the horns and you’ve got to just own it. And our guys owned it.”
The Celtics were the NBA's top team throughout the year, finishing with a league-best 64-18 regular-season record. They lived up to their No. 1 seeding in the playoffs and then some, going 16-3, never coming close to facing elimination.
Mazzulla and Co. will cap off their title celebration with Friday's championship parade in Boston, beginning at 11 a.m. ET.
